Combined display



(No Model.) 7

A. A. ALLEN. COMBINED DISPLAY, BOOK, AND MUSIC RACK. No. 538,145.

Patented Apr. 23, 1895.

WZZWESSE'S w d A rrao STATES ATENT retes COMBINED DISPLAY, BOOK, AND MUSIC RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,145, dated April 23, 1895.

Application filed February 2, 1895. Serial No. 537,039. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. ALLEN, a

I citizen of the United States of Arnerica,residit appertains to make and use the same, refer-- ence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that 4 class of furniture known as folding shelves, the object of the same being to provide an article of furniture which can be used as a display-rack, book shelf, music holder, and for other purposes; and it consists in providing four posts with shelves each having ledges at the sides and front edge, the ledges onthe sides serving to connect each pair of posts to each other, the rear post of each pair having a bar pivoted thereto said bars being adapted to serve either as legs for the support of the device whenused as a display rack or flower stand or connect the posts to each other so thatithe shelves can be held in different positions.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention applied as a display rack or flower stand. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the device arranged so that the shelves will be held in a horizontal position one above the other. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the device arranged as a music rack; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the parts folded.

A A designate a series of boards or shelves which are each provided at its front edge with a strip or ledge a and at its side edges with strips or ledges a of the same height.

13 B designate corner-posts which are pivotally connected to the ledges a of the shelves by means of bolts or screws 5, and the upper ends of these posts are provided with eyes b to which suspending cords are secured when the device is arranged as shown in Fig. 1 it is convenient for displaying goods in show- Windows, and the goods can be placed in position upon the shelves from the rear.- When arranged as shown in Fig. 2 it will form a convenient book-rack, and when the posts to which the bars 0 are pivoted are placed against a wall the ledges a will be in front and the shelves provide convenient receptacles. When it is desired to use the device as a music-rack it can be arranged as shown in Fig. 3, the sheet-music resting upon the shelves and against the ledges a. r

I am aware that prior to 'my invention it has been proposed to provide folding shelves in which the shelves arepivotally connected to uprights and provided with a bar pivoted to one of the uprights for engagement with 7 another to hold the shelves in a horizontal position, and I do not therefore claim such construction as my invention, but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. A display rack or stand consisting of four corner posts supporting shelves which connect the posts to each other, the front posts having pins or studs projecting from their outer sides and the rear posts having near their upper ends pins which project from the outer sides of said posts, and bars 0 pivoted upon the pins" carried. by the rear posts and provided with a notch c for engagement with the pins on the front posts, substantially as shown, whereby the shelves can be supported by the posts so that they will be in a horizontal position one above the other or in an inclined position, the bars 0 serving to lock the corner posts when in such position, said bars also serving as legs to support the whole device in an inclined position, for the purposes set forth.

2. An article of furniture consisting of shelves having front and side iedges, posts 01' supports pivoted to the side ledges of the shelves, bars C pivoted to the rear posts and provided at their outer ends With a notch for engagement with pins 1) and b which project from the other posts, and eyes 11 secured to 10 the upper ends of the posts, snbstantiall y as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT A. ALLEN. Witnesses:

W. E. OLMsTED, O. E. ALLEN. 

